A medical evacuation off ship.

On Tuesday, 6 May, just after 20h00, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and NSRI Richards Bay were alerted to a Chinese man who was injured onboard a bulk carrier, with the vessel heading towards Richards Bay.

On Wednesday evening, 7 May, just after 18h00, we launched the NSRI rescue craft Ocean Guardian, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew, a Netcare 911 ambulance services rescue paramedic and a Faith Med ambulance services rescue paramedic.

A Faith Med ambulance stood by at our NSRI rescue base.

We rendezvoused with the motor vessel offshore of Richards Bay at the outer anchorage, where 2 NSRI MEX crewmen and 2 rescue paramedics were transferred onto the vessel.

In cooperation with the ship's medical crew, the patient was further stabilised by the rescue paramedics and secured in personal protective gear.

In a technical high-angle extrication operation, the patient was transferred onto our rescue craft, followed by the NSRI MEX crew and the paramedics.

In the care of the paramedics, the patient was brought onboard our rescue craft to our NSRI Richards Bay station 19 rescue base, and he was transported to the hospital by Faith Med ambulance in a stable condition.

In hospital, in the care of doctors and nurses, the patient is expected to make a full recovery.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Richards Bay duty controllers and NSRI Richards Bay operations, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control, Netcare 911 ambulance services, Faith Med ambulance services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Richards Bay Port Control, TNPA Port Health Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, SA Police Services Sea Borderline Control, the ships Master and crew and the shipping agent, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the coordination and logistics of this medical evacuation operation.